Father's Day 2024

Father's Day is in just a few days. This one hits a little different for us. I've mentioned before, we are in the process of adopting a young man whom, a year ago, was a complete stranger to us. We'd never heard his name or heard of the elementary school he was attending at the time. He was living with a family we'd never heard of, celebrating the day with a man who was selflessly standing in the gap until our young man's forever father would come along. My husband is --Lord willing, will be -- his forever father. And, though we have other children who will join us in a celebration of the man my husband is, I have this fierce compulsion to make this occasion as hands-on for our son as I can. I want this day to be one in which he is free to embrace, as his father, the father at the head of our household --and free to trust our Heavenly Father, the head of our home. 

This is such a complex chain of events, connections, emotions, memories, obligations, and concessions --for all parties. As with all of life, there are good memories, things we hoped would last forever, that are to remain only in our hearts and minds. There are bad memories that we seek to put to rest, but just won't seem to go to bed when they are told. There are efforts to extinguish the past and, at the same time, hold onto that which makes us the better versions of ourselves. There are feelings of betrayal and apprehension and longing and misunderstanding. There will be failures and missteps and words said in haste and tears of regret mingled with tears of forgiveness. And there is no better Father to lead us in this way than the One who brought us all together. He understands adoption better than anyone. 

Maybe your story is a little more straightforward --you had a great dad and you married a great dad. Your father encouraged you and guided you in all things big and small, the same way your husband does for your children. Or maybe it's been through many tears and much faith you have healed from the wounds your father inflicted, and you were able to marry a loving father for your children. Maybe your father was the World's Greatest Dad, who was always there for you, even when your children's father wasn't. Or maybe the father you're celebrating wasn't actually a biological father at all, but a loving, honest man who taught you and corrected you, giving you sound spiritual knowledge and modeling for you true wisdom when others were unable to do their part.

As you prepare to mark this special day, I would encourage you to take a moment or several to focus on the Father who loves you more than any other, the Father who so deeply desires a relationship with you that He gave His only Son that all who trust in His Gift might be reconciled in perfect relationship with Him! Give thanks to the Father that provides for and protects His children in ways too benevolent, too complex for us to imagine. Offer up your praise to the Father who created and sustains all things, who is so big He has filled the oceans by scooping water in His palm and measured out the heavens by the span of His hand; and the Father who is so compassionate and careful, He knows the number of hairs on your head and catches your tears as they fall. Give your attention to the Father who placed you in the care of your earthly father --good or not so good --for reasons that He will reveal as you trust Him to direct your path best of all. And share your affection for your Father and other fathers with anyone you meet, that this day might truly be a day of celebration.